Surface characterization of feldspathic ceramic using ATR FT-IR and ellipsometry after various silanization protocols

Objectives. This study characterized the feldspathic ceramic surfaces after various silanization protocols.Methods. Ceramic bars (2 mm x 4 mm x 10 mm) (N = 18) of feldpathic ceramic (VM7, VITA Zahnfabrik) were manufactured and finished. Before silane application, the specimens were ultrasonically cleaned in distilled water for 10 min. The ceramic specimens were randomly divided into nine groups (N = 2 per group) and were treated with different silane protocols. MPS silane (ESPE-Sil, 3M ESPE) was applied to all specimens and left to react at 20 degrees C for 2 min (G20). After drying, the specimens were subjected to heat treatment in an oven at 38 degrees C (G38), 79 degrees C (G79) or 100 degrees C (G100) for 1 min. Half of the specimens of each group were rinsed with water at 80 degrees C for 15 s (G20B, G38B, G79B, G100B). The control group (GC) received no silane. Attenuated total reflection infrared Fourier transform analysis (ATR FT-IR) was performed using a spectrometer. Thickness of silane layer was measured using a spectroscopic ellip-someter working in the lambda = 632.8 nm (He-Ne laser) at 70 degrees incidence angle. Surface roughness was evaluated using an optical profilometer. Specimens were further analyzed under the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to observe the topographic patterns.Results. ATR FT-IR analysis showed changes in Si-O peaks with enlarged bands around 940 cm(-1). Ellipsometry measurements showed that all post-heat treatment actions reduced the silane film thickness (30.8-33.5 nm) compared to G20 (40 nm). The groups submitted to rinsing in hot water (B groups) showed thinner silane films (9.8-14.4 nm) than those of their corresponding groups (without washing) (30.8-40 nm). Profilometer analysis showed that heat treatments (Ra approximate to 0.10-0.19 mu m; Rq approximate to 0.15-0.26 mu m) provided a smoother surface than the control group (Ra approximate to 0.48 mu m; Rq approximate to 0.65 mu m). Similar patterns were also observed in SEM images.Significance. Heat treatment after MPS silane application improved the silane layer network. Rinsing with boiling water eliminated the outmost unreacted regions of the silane yielding to thinner film thicknesses. (C) 2011 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Microtensile bond strength of a resin cement to feldpathic ceramic after different etching and silanization regimens in dry and aged conditions

Objectives. This study evaluated the durability of bond strength between resin cement and a feldspathic ceramic submitted to different etching regimens with and without silane coupling agent application.Methods. Thirty-two blocks (6.4 mm x 6.4 mm x 4.8 mm) were fabricated using a microparticulate feldspathic ceramic (Vita VM7), ultrasonically cleaned with water for 5 min and randomly divided into four groups, according to the type of etching agent and silanization method: method 1, etching with 10% hydrofluoric (HF) acid gel for I min + silanization; method 2, HF only; method 3, etching with 1.23% acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) for 5 min + silanization; method 4, APF only. Conditioned blocks were positioned in their individual silicone molds and resin cement (Panavia F) was applied on the treated surfaces. Specimens were stored in distilled water (37 degrees C) for 24 h prior to sectioning. After sectioning the ceramic-cement blocks in x- and Y-axis with a bonded area of approximately 0.6 mm(2), the microsticks of each block were randomly divided into two storage conditions: Dry, immediate testing; TC, thermal cycling (12,000 times) + water storage for 150 d, yielding to eight experimental groups. Microtensile bond strength tests were performed in universal testing machine (cross-head speed: 1 mm/min) and failure types were noted. Data obtained (MPa) were analyzed with three-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (alpha = 0.05).Results. Significant influence of the use of silane (p < 0.0001), storage conditions (p = 0.0013) and surface treatment were observed (p = 0.0014). The highest bond strengths were achieved in both dry and thermocycled conditions when the ceramics were etched with HF acid gel and silanized (17.4 +/- 5.8 and 17.4 +/- 4.8 MPa, respectively). Silanization after HF acid gel and APT treatment increased the results dramatically (14.5 +/- 4.2-17.4 +/- 4.8 MPa) compared to non-silanized groups (2.6 +/- 0.8-8.9 +/- 3.1 MPa) where the failure type was exclusively (100%) adhesive between the cement and the ceramic.Significance. Silanization of the feldspathic ceramic surface after APF or HF acid etching increased the microtensile bond strength results significantly, with the latter providing higher results. Long-term thermocycling and water storage did not decrease the results in silanized groups. (C) 2006 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of Post-silanization Heat Treatments of Silanized Feldspathic Ceramic on Adhesion to Resin Cement

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of post-silanization heat treatment of a silane agent and rinsing with hot water of silanized CAD/CAM feldspathic ceramic surfaces on the microtensile bond strength between resin cement and the ceramic, before and after mechanical cycling.Materials and Methods: Blocks measuring 10 x 5.7 x 3.25 mm(3) were produced from feldspathic ceramic cubes (VITA Mark II, VITA Zanhfabrik). Each ceramic block was duplicated in composite resin using a template made of polyvinylsiloxane impression material. Afterwards, ceramic and corresponding resin composite blocks were ultrasonically cleaned and randomly divided according to the 5 strategies used for conditioning the ceramic surface (n = 10): GHF: etching with hydrofluoric acid 10% + rinsing with water at room temperature + silanization at 20 degrees C; G20: silanization; G77: silanization + oven drying at 77 degrees C; G20r: silanization + hot water rinsing; G77r: silanization + oven drying at 77 C + hot water rinsing. The resin and ceramic blocks were cemented using a dual-curing resin cement. Every group was divided in two subgroups: aging condition (mechanical cycling, designated as a) or non-aging (designated as n). All the bonded assemblies were sectioned into microsticks for microtensile bond strength (mu TBS) testing. The failure mode of the tested specimens was assessed and mu TBS data were statistically analyzed in two ways: first 2-way ANOVA (GHF, G20 and G77 in non-aging/aging conditions) and 3-way ANOVA (temperature x rinsing x aging factors, excluding GHF), followed by Tukey's test (p = 0.05).Results: The 2-way ANOVA revealed that the mu TBS was significantly affected by the surface treatment (p < 0.001) but not by aging (p = 0.68), and Tukey's test showed that G77-n/G77-a (18.0 MPa) > GHF-n/GHF-a (12.2 MPa) > G20-n/G20-a (9.1 MPa). The 3-way ANOVA revealed that the mu TBS was significantly affected by the heat treatment and rinsing factors (p < 0.001), but not affected by aging (p = 0.36). The rinsing procedure decreased, while oven drying increased the bond strengths. Group G77, in both non-aging and aging conditions (18.6-17.4 MPa), had the highest bond values. Failure modes were mainly mixed for all groups.Conclusion: Oven drying at 77 degrees C improved the bond strength between the resin cement and feldspathic ceramic, but hot water rinsing reduced the bond strength and should not be recommended.

Coupling of composite resin cements to quartz fiber posts: A comparison of industrial and ""chairside"" treatments of the post surface

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of surface treatments on microtensile bond strength of luting resin cements to fiber posts. Materials and Methods: Forty-two quartz fiber posts (Light Post, RTD) were divided into 7 groups (n = 6) according to the surface treatment. I and 11: experimental patented industrial treatment consisting of zirconium oxide coating and silanization (RTD); III: industrial treatment followed by adhesive application (XPBond, Dentsply Caulk); IV: adhesive (XPBond); V: adhesive (Prime&Bond NT, Dentsply Caulk); VI: silane (Calibra Silane, Dentsply Caulk); VII: no treatment. Adhesives were used in the self-curing mode. Two cements (Sealbond, RTD - group 1, and Calibra, Dentsply Caulk - groups 11 to VII) were applied on the posts to produce cylindrical specimens. Post/cement interfaces were evaluated under SEM. The surface of the industrially coated posts was examined using energy dispersive analysis by x-ray. Cylinders were cut to obtain microtensile sticks that were loaded in tension at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min until failure. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance followed by Dunn`s multiple range test for post-hoc comparisons (p < 0.05). Weibull analysis was also performed. Results: The post/cement bond strength was significantly higher on fiber posts treated industrially (I: 23.14 +/- 8.05 MPa; II: 21.56 +/- 7.07 MPa; III: 22.37 +/- 7.00 MPa) or treated with XPBond adhesive (IV: 21.03 +/- 5.34 MPa) when compared to Prime&Bond NT application (V: 14.05 +/- 5.06 MPa), silanization (VI: 6.31 +/- 4.60 MPa) or no treatment (VII: 4.62 +/- 4.31) of conventional fiber posts (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The experimental industrial surface treatment and the adhesive application enhanced fiber post to resin cement interfacial strength. Industrial pretreatment may simplify the clinical luting procedure.

PDMS biofunctionalization study for the development of a microfluidic device: Application to salivary cortisol

The authors acknowledge to Sofia Neves from ICVS for her help in the antibodies selection.

Imobilização de 8-hidroxiquinoleína em sílica gel. Melhorias na tradicional rota de diazotação

Some modifications made at silanization step and the introduction of r-nitrobenzil bromide as an alternative reagent to the 8-hydroxiquinolein immobilization in silica gel were important points that brought up the reduction of synthesis time, efficency improvement of the immobilization process and better hydrolysis stabilization to the final materials. The caracterization was made by infrared spectroscopy, elementary analysis, complexing capacity and acid-base properties.

Bonding of Composite Resin to Alumina and Zirconia Ceramics with Special Emphasis on Surface Conditioning and Use of Coupling Agents

Dental oxide ceramics have been inspired by their biocompability and mechanical properties which have made durable all-ceramic structures possible. Clinical longevity of the prosthetic structures is dependent on effective bonding with luting cements. As the initial shear bond strength values can be comparable with several materials and procedures, long-term durability is affected by ageing. Aims of the current study were: to measure the shear bond strength of resin composite-to-ceramics and to evaluate the longevity of the bond; to analyze factors affecting the bond, with special emphasis on: the form of silicatization of the ceramic surface; form of silanization; type of resin primer and the effect of the type of the resin composite luting cement; the effect of ageing in water was studied regarding its effect to the endurance of the bond. Ceramic substrates were alumina and yttrium stabilized zirconia. Ceramic conditioning methods included tribochemical silicatization and use of two silane couplings agents. A commercial silane primer was used as a control silane. Various combinations of conditioning methods, primers and resin cements were tested. Bond strengths were measured by shear bond strength method. The longevity of the bond was generally studied by thermocycling the materials in water. Additionally, in one of the studies thermal cycling was compared with long-term water storaging. Results were analysed statistically with ANOVA and Weibull analysis. Tribochemical treatment utilizing air pressure of 150 kPa resulted shear bond strengths of 11.2 MPa to 18.4 MPa and air pressure of 450 kPa 18.2 MPa to 30.5 MPa, respectively. Thermocycling of 8000 cycles or four years water storaging both decreased shear bond strength values to a range of 3.8 MPa to 7.2 MPa whereas initial situation varied from 16.8. Mpa to 23.0 MPa. The silane used in studies had no statistical significance. The use of primers without 10-MDP resulted spontaneous debonding during thermocycling or shear bond strengths below 5 MPa. As conclusion, the results showed superior long-term bonding with primers containing 10-MDP. Silicatization with silanizing showed improved initial shear bond strength values which considerably decreased with ageing in water. Thermal cycling and water storing for up to four years played the major role in reduction of bond strength, which could be due to thermal fatigue of the bonding interface and hydrolytic degradation of the silane coupled interface.

Immobilization of Catalysts of Biological Interest on Porous Oxidized Silicon Surfaces

The present paper deals with the immobilization of redox mediators and proteins onto protected porous silicon surfaces to obtain their direct electrochemical reactions and to retain their bioactivities. This paper shows that MP-11 and viologens are able to establish chemical bonds with 3-aminopropyltriethoxylsilane-modified porous silicon surface. The functionalization of the surfaces have been fully characterized by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to examine the immobilization of these mediators onto the solid surface. Amperometric and open circuit potential measurements have shown the direct electron transfer between glucose oxidase and the electrode in the presence of the viologen mediator covalently linked to the 3-aminopropyltriethoxylsilane (APTES)-modified porous silicon surfaces.

Vermiculitas tratadas quimicamente na obtenção de sólidos microporosos como precursores para híbridos inorgânico-orgânicos com aplicações adsortivas

ALVES, Ana paula Melo. Vermiculitas tratadas quimicamente na obtenção de sólidos microporosos como precursores para híbridos inorgânico-orgânicos com aplicações adsortivas. 2009. 124 f. Tese (Doutorado em Quimica) - Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, 2009.

Effect of conditioning methods on the microtensile bond strength of phosphate monomer-based cement on zirconia ceramic in dry and aged conditions

The objective of this study was to evaluate the durability of bond strength between a resin cement and aluminous ceramic submitted to various surface conditioning methods. Twenty-four blocks (5 X 5 X 4 mm 3) of a glass-in filtrated zirconia-alumina ceramic (inCeram Zirconia Classic) were randomly divided into three surface treatment groups: ST1-Air-abrasion with 110-mu m Al2O3 particles + silanization; ST2-Laboratory tribochemical silica coating method (110-mu m Al2O3, ilO-PM Silica) (Rocatec) + silanization; ST3-Chairside tribochemical silica coating method (30-mu m SiOx) (CoJet) + silanization. Each treated ceramic block was placed in its silicone mold with the treated surface exposed. The resin cement (Panavia F) was prepared and injected into the mold over the treated surface. Specimens were sectioned to achieve nontrimmed bar specimens (14 sp/block) that were randomly divided into two conditions: (a) Dry-microtensile test after sectioning; (b) Thermocycling (TC)-(6,000X, 5-55 degrees C) and water storage (150 days). Thus, six experimental groups were obtained (11 = 50): Gr1-ST1 + dry; Gr2-ST1 + TC. Gr3-ST2 + dry; Gr4-ST2 + TC; Gr5-ST3 + dry; Gr6ST3 + TC. After microtensile testing, the failure types were noted. ST2 (25.1 +/- 11) and ST3 (24.1 +/- 7.4) presented statistically higher bond strength (MPa) than that of STI (17.5 +/- 8) regardless of aging conditions (p < 0.0001). While Gr2 revealed the lowest results (13.3 +/- 6.4), the other groups (21.7 +/- 7.4-25. 9 +/- 9.1) showed statistically no significant differences (two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test, a 0.05). The majority of the failures were mixed (82%) followed by adhesive failures (18%). Gr2 presented significantly higher incidence of ADHESIVE failures (54%) than those of other groups (p = 0.0001). Both laboratory and chairside silica coating plus silanization showed durable bond strength. After aging, airabrasion with 110-mu m Al2O3 + silanization showed the largest decrease indicating that aging is fundamental for bond strength testing for acid-resistant Arconia ceramics in order to estimate their long-term performance in the mouth. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Durability of Microtensile Bond to Nonetched and Etched Feldspar Ceramic: Self-adhesive Resin Cements vs Conventional Resin

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of thermocycling (TC), self-adhesive resin cements and surface conditioning on the microtensile bond strength (mu TBS) between feldspathic ceramic blocks and resin cements.Materials and Methods: Fifty-six feldspathic ceramic blocks (10 x 7 x 5 mm) (Vita Mark II) were divided into groups according to the factors "resin cement" (3 cements) and "surface conditioning" (no conditioning or conditioning [10% hydrofluoric acid etching for 5 min + silanization]) (n = 8): group 1: conditioning+Variolink II (control group); group 2: no conditioning+Biscem; group 3: no conditioning+RelyX U100; group 4: no conditioning+Maxcem Elite; group 5: conditioning+Biscem; group 6: conditioning+RelyX U100; group 7: conditioning+Maxcem Elite. The ceramic-cement blocks were sectioned to produce non-trimmed bar specimens (adhered cross-sectional area: 1 +/- 0.1 mm(2)), which were divided into two storage conditions: dry, mu TBS immediately after cutting; TC (12,000x, 5 degrees C/55 degrees C). Statistical significance was deterimined using two-way ANOVA (7 strategies and 2 storage conditions) and the post-hoc Tukey test (p<0.05).Results: Resin cement and thermocycling affected the mu TBS significantly (p = 0.001). In the dry condition, group 5 (18 +/- 6.5 MPa) presented the lowest values of mu TBS when compared to the other groups. TC decreased the mean mu TBS values significantly (p<0.05) for all resin cements tested (9.7 +/- 2.3 to 22.1 +/- 6.3 MPa), except for the resin cement RelyX U100 (22.1 +/- 6.3 MPa). In groups 3 and 4, it was not possible to measure mu TBS, since these groups had 100% pre-test failures during sectioning. Moreover, the same occurred in group 2 after TC, where 100% failure was observed during thermocycling (spontaneous failures).Conclusion: Hydrofluoric acid etching and silanization of the feldspathic ceramic surface are essential for bonding self-adhesive resin cement to a feldspathic ceramic, regardless of the resin cement used. Non-etched ceramic is not recommended.

Bond strength durability of a resin composite on a reinforced ceramic using various repair systems

Objectives. This study compared the durability of repair bond strength of a resin composite to a reinforced ceramic after three repair systems.Methods. Alumina-reinforced feldspathic ceramic blocks (Vitadur-alpha(R)) (N=30) were randomly divided into three groups according to the repair method: PR-Porcelain Repair Kit (Bisco) [etching with 9.5% hydrofluoric acid + silanization + adhesive]; CJ-CoJet Repair Kit (3M ESPE) [(chairside silica coating with 30 mu m SiO2 + silanization (ESPE(R)-Sil) + adhesive (Visio(TM)-Bond)]; CL-Clearfil Repair Kit [diamond surface roughening, etching with 40% H3PO4 + Clearfil Porcelain Bond Activator + Clearfil SE Bond)]. Resin composite was photo-polymerized on each conditioned ceramic block. Non-trimmed beam specimens were produced for the microtensile bond strength (mu TBS) tests. In order to study the hydrolytic durability of the repair methods, the beam specimens obtained from each block were randomly assigned to two conditions. Half of the specimens were tested either immediately after beam production (Dry) or after long-term water storage (37 degrees C, 150 days) followed by thermocyling (12,000 cycles, 5-55 degrees C) in a universal testing machine (1 mm/min). Failure types were analyzed under an optical microscope and SEM.Results. mu TBS results were significantly affected by the repair method (p=0.0001) and the aging conditions (p=0.0001) (two-way ANOVA, Tukey's test). In dry testing conditions, PR method showed significantly higher (p < 0.001) repair bond strength (19.8 +/- 3.8 MPa) than those of CJ and CL (12.4 +/- 4.7 and 9.9 +/- 2.9, respectively). After long-term water storage and thermocycling, CJ revealed significantly higher results (14.5 +/- 3.1 MPa) than those of PR (12.1 +/- 2.6 MPa) (p < 0.01) and CL (4.2 +/- 2.1 MPa) (p < 0.001). In all groups when tested in dry conditions, cohesive failure in the composite accompanied with adhesive failure at the interface (mixed failures), was frequently observed (76%, 80%, 65% for PR, CJ and CL, respectively). After aging conditions, while the specimens treated with PR and CJ presented primarily mixed failure types (52% and 87%, respectively), CL group presented mainly complete adhesive failures at the interface (70%).Significance. Hydrolytic stability of the repair method based on silica coating and silanization was superior to the other repair strategies for the ceramic tested. (C) 2009 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of testing methods on the bond strength of resin to zirconia-alumina ceramic: microtensile versus shear test

This study tested the bond strength of a resin cement to a glass-infiltrated zirconia-alumina ceramic after three conditioning methods and using two test methods (shear-SBS versus microtensile-MTBS). Ceramic blocks for MTBS and ceramic disks for SBS were fabricated. Three surface conditioning (SC) methods were evaluated: (1) 110-mu m Al(2)O(3)+Silanization; (2) Chairside silica coating+silanization: (3) Laboratory silica coating+silanization. Following surface conditioning, the resin cement (Panavia F) was bonded to the conditioned ceramics. Although no statistically significant differences (p=0.1076) were seen between the test methods, results yielded with the different surface conditioning methods showed statistically significant differences (p<0.0001) (SC2=SC3>SC1.). As for the interaction between the factors, two-way ANOVA showed that it was not statistically significant (p=0.1443). MTBS test resulted in predominantly mixed failure (85%), but SBS test resulted in exclusively adhesive failure. on the effects of different surface conditioning methods, chairside and laboratory tribochemical silica coating followed by silanization showed higher bond strength results compared to those of aluminum oxide abrasion and silanization, independent of the test method employed.

Influence of ceramic surface conditioning and resin cements on microtensile bond strength to a glass ceramic

Statement of problem. It is not clear how different glass ceramic surface pretreatments influence the bonding capacity of various luting agents to these surfaces.Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the microtensile bond strength (mu TBS) of 3 resin cements to a lithia disilicate-based ceramic submitted to 2 surface conditioning treatments.Material and methods. Eighteen 5 X 6 X 8-mm ceramic (IPS Empress 2) blocks were fabricated according to manufacturer's instructions and duplicated in composite resin (Tetric Ceram). Ceramic blocks were polished and divided into 2 groups (n=9/treatment): no conditioning (no-conditioning/control), or 5% hydrofluoric acid etching for 20 seconds and silanization for 1 minute (HF + SIL). Ceramic blocks were cemented to the composite resin blocks with I self-adhesive universal resin cement (RelyX Unicem) or 1 of 2 resin-based luting agents (Multilink or Panavia F), according to the manufacturer's instructions. The composite resin-ceramic blocks were stored in humidity at 37 degrees C for 7 days and serially sectioned to produce 25 beam specimens per group with a 1.0-mm(2) cross-sectional area. Specimens were thermal cycled (5000 cycles, 5 degrees C-55 degrees C) and tested in tension at 1 mm/min. Microtensile bond strength data (MPa) were analyzed by 2-way analysis of variance and Tukey multiple comparisons tests (alpha=.05). Fractured specimens were examined with a stereomicroscope (X40) and classified as adhesive, mixed, or cohesive.Results. The surface conditioning factor was significant (HF+SIL > no-conditioning) (P<.0001). Considering the unconditioned groups, the mu TBS of RelyX Unicem was significantly higher (9.6 +/- 1.9) than that of Multilink (6.2 +/- 1.2) and Panavia F (7.4 +/- 1.9). Previous etching and silanization yielded statistically higher mu TBS values for RelyX Unicem (18.8 +/- 3.5) and Multilink (17.4 +/- 3.0) when compared to Panavia F (15.7 +/- 3.8). Spontaneous debonding after thermal cycling was detected when luting agents were applied to untreated ceramic surfaces.Conclusion. Etching and silanization treatments appear to be crucial for resin bonding to a lithia disilicate-based ceramic, regardless of the resin cement used.

Effect of surface conditioning methods on the microtensile bond strength of resin composite to composite after aging conditions

Objectives. This study evaluated the effect of two different surface conditioning methods on the repair bond strength of a bis-GMA-adduct/bis-EMA/TEGDMA based resin composite after three aging conditions.Methods. Thirty-six composite resin blocks (Esthet X, Dentsply) were prepared (5 mm x 6 mm x 6 mm) and randomly assigned into three groups for aging process: (a) immersion in citric acid (pH 3.0 at 37 degrees C, 1 week) (CA); (b) boiling in water for 8h (BW) and (c) thermocycling (x5000, 5-55 degrees C, dwell time: 30s) (TC). After aging, the blocks were assigned to one of the following surface conditioning methods: (1) silica coating (30 mu m SiOx) (CoJet, 3M ESPE) + silane (ESPE-Sil) (CJ), (2) phosphoric acid + adhesive resin (Single Bond, 3M ESPE) (PA). Resin composite (Esthet.X (R)) was bonded to the conditioned substrates incrementally and light polymerized. The experimental groups formed were as follows: Gr1:CA + PA; Gr2:CA + CJ Gr3:BW + PA; Gr4: BW + CJ; Gr5:TC + PA; Gr6: TC + CJ. The specimens were sectioned in two axes (x and y) with a diamond disc under coolant irrigation in order to obtain non-trimmed bar specimens (sticks, 10 mm x 1 mm x 1 mm) with 1 mm(2) of bonding area. The microtensile test was accomplished in a universal testing machine (crosshead speed: 0.5 mm min(-1)).Results. The means and standard deviations of bond strength (MPa +/- S.D.) per group were as follows: Gr1: 25.5 +/- 10.3; Gr2: 46.3 +/- 10.1; Gr3: 21.7 +/- 7.1; Gr4: 52.3 +/- 15.1; GrS: 16.1 +/- 5.1; Gr6, 49.6 +/- 13.5. The silica coated groups showed significantly higher mean bond values after all three aging conditions (p < 0.0001) (two-way ANOVA and Tukey tests, alpha = 0.05). The interaction effect revealed significant influence of TC aging on both silica coated and acid etched groups compared to the other aging methods (p < 0.032). Citric acid was the least aggressive aging medium.Significance. Chairside silica coating and silanization provided higher resin-resin bond strength values compared to acid etching with phosphoric acid followed by adhesive resin applications. Thermocycling the composite substrates resulted in the lowest repair bond strength compared to citric acid challenge or boiling in water. (C) 2006 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.